Marcy-Holmes

On the other side of the Mississippi River form downtown Minneapolis, Marcy- Holmes is a fun and exciting neighborhood to visit for the nearby University of Minnesota students and families from throughout the city. On the other side of I-35 is Dinkytown, a famous well known spot for unique eateries, shops, bars and art spaces. Dinkyton is a something that all Minneapolis residents are obligated to visit at least once in their lives. Even though some families do live in this community, Marcy- Holmes is noted for its young, semi- college town feel where urban hustle and bustle are a constant.

Marcy- Holmes is a renter's neighborhood with very few properties up for sale. Those who do wish to purchase a home here would have to pay over $250,000 while a lease will seldom go over $750 per month. Most of the local homes are apartment buildings and complexes that were built after 1970 while a small cluster of older historic houses till stand within the area. The properties are low maintenance and offer easy to live in homes for college crowds and a few of the buildings/ houses are the living quarters for University of Minnesota sororities and fraternities. One of the downsides of Marcy-Holmes is the high crime rate, often resulting from some rambunctious college students, but it is advised to walk with some company at night.

One of my favorite things about the Marcy-Holmes neighborhood of Minneapolis is Dinkytown – who wouldn’t even love a fun name like that? Dinkytown has a great variety of eclectic shops, restaurants, art, and taverns. If you are a student of the University of Minnesota, this is definitely one place you at least have to visit. The ambience is very much a college-town feel, although it is not directly adjacent to the college. There are families who live in Marcy-Holmes as well, and the neighborhood does have a K-8 school that is focused on the arts. The community has a few smaller, specialized or private schools as well.
There is a mix of home styles, from older homes to those that have been renovated, to lots of rental units. There is one area of homes in the Florence Court area that contains several dozen historic homes that have been well-maintained, giving it a residential focus. The trendy mix of apartments and multi-tenant buildings helps add to the feeling that this is for a slightly younger crowd, or at least one that prefers an active lifestyle without an emphasis on the picket-fence vision of upscale homes. There are also some sorority and fraternity homes in the area.

I really liked visiting this neighborhood. There is nothing like walking down 3rd Ave at night, when Block E is all lit up, activity is stirring and someone undoubtedly is being kicked out of a bar. The local restaurants are a nice place to sit down and enjoy some classy stylish eating without paying the “classy” prices. If you are a Christian, there is a nice variety of churches to meet your praying needs. The only things that make this a good place to visit and not live are the fact that the public transportation is almost non-existent for a major metropolitan and the cost of living is too darn high.
In defense of the transportation, I come from Chicago where there is a bus on every corner. So being in a major city where all there are a handful of buses and the ever-loving light rail (which goes from downtown mpls to Mall of America in Bloomington) is less than impressive.
I personally like living in the burbs better (Richfield) the cost of living is better. You can usually get a 1 br for only 600-650 and its quieter and more family oriented.